Pad Thai with Tofu {Revisited} + Tofu Xpress Review

Hi all! I am back from the deep recesses of recital madness! Ryan’s DMA Recital was a huge success and a load off both our shoulders, even though it is probably more a load off Ryan’s than mine. We had at least 50 people attend the recital plus all the singers and instrumentalists. It turned out to be around 80 people in the church! This is definitely more than I expected for sure.

It is a blessing that everything came together SO quickly especially since Ryan had only 2 weeks (12 hours) of rehearsal time to teach us 12 pieces. Intense work folks. Like I said before, I was a sight-singing fiend! I do not know if I mentioned it, but Ryan assigned me two solos. One came from an amazing Rossini piece called I Gondolieri which was more of a quartet alternating with solo sections.

The other piece was an Argentinian piece by Albert Favero that was arranged by Liliana Cangiano called Te Quiero. I had not perfomed in Spanish in a long time so I was thrilled to since a solo for this love song.

Even though I was relieved that Ryan’s recital is over, I will miss making music like that. I am also thankful that I will no longer have to split my time between being a performer and being a caterer. I was WIPED this weekend. If it had not been for the ladies and friends at church helping me out with baked goods and a cake, then I would not be writing tonight. I feel so blessed to be able to ask friends for help because I totally would not have been able to do it myself. I do not have pictures of the event but there was more than enough baked goods and sheet cake for 80 people, thank GOD! What I did not have enough of was the punch part, but we made do. It was such a great success. I can tell you that I feel more confident being able to make larger meals for large groups of people, but hopefully being paid for it! He he he. My time means something ya know?

Tonight I had a chance to get back to my cooking again. Even though I did not work out, I knew that Ryan and I needed to get the house back in order. How can a small duplex get so messy SO fast? Ok, don’t answer that.

I worked with the TofuXpressbut even more so I could take pictures that I had lost last week. This press is the best thing I have used in a long time when it comes to gadgets. I love my press!! What I did find out about this press is that it presses certain types of tofu but not all successfully.

The press does not work for MORI-NU tofu or any that come in aseptic containers. These are better for smoothies, soups, quick tofu scrambles and such but not for pressing. I have tried several times and it has FAILED.

What DOES work is the tofu that comes in water like the Nasoya brands and brands like this:

I opened the container and drained the water and then placed the tofu in the press.

The water naturally separates to the top after I place the press above the tofu. If I am using the tofu for dinner, I usually start pressing the tofu in the morning, but otherwise it only needs 30 minutes to and an hour to press. I then check on the water and empty the container every 15 minutes.

I then remove the tofu from the press and pat it dry. I then use it however I want whether it is to make tofu steaks or tofu cubes for a stirfry. Tonight I decided to make a pad thai with the tofu. I marinated the tofu cubes in sesame oil and tamari and then fried them in a non-stick skillet.

Perfection folks! They pan-fried so lovely and were a great addition to the pad thai. Who needs chicken, when you got delicious tofu? Stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway of one of these great gadgets!

In a small bowl, mix sauce ingredients: agave nectar, mirin, ketchup, tamari (or soy sauce), lime juice, Thai chili sauce, and dulse flakes. Add the sauce to the noodles and veggies. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes on medium heat, until the noodles and sauce start to to absorb.

Delicious spin on pad thai I’ve been loving tofu lately and this gadget looks very handy. Great for squeezing out spinach before making spinach pie or spanakopita or something too.Glad your crazy period is now over with!

Yummy! Pad Thai is one of my faves! I don’t have a non-stick skillet. Any suggestions of cooking it w/o one?

http://www.blogger.com/profile/15820580955484678416 roxan

Great job w/ the pad thai! I’ve starred your recipe for future use I love that you sang an argentinian piece.. I just got back from there!

http://anecdotesandapples.weebly.com/ Monet

Perfection indeed! This recipe and dish looks so delicious. I’m going to save it for this weekend…Ryan and I will be in heaven! The recital looks like it was a smashing success. I’m so glad to hear that it went well. Thank you for sharing with us!

I’d really like to try the Tofu X-press, I hate pressing tofu and wasting all those paper towels! Your dish looks yummy and I agree, who needs the meat!

Going to read for PFB post now!

http://www.blogger.com/profile/12441053969652689705 Stella

Your Pad Thai looks absolutely delicious, Noelle. Who needs egg or shrimp when stuff looks this nice without it!? Ooh, and I’ve never seen a tofu press like that-interesting…Glad your recital went well too;)

http://www.blogger.com/profile/10401703700484571180 Selene

yum!!! delicious! can’t wait to try. i love pad thai but the restaurant versions always make me sick with all the oil and way too many noodles. ps total tofu press envy!!

http://almostveganblog.com/ Amber Shea @Almost Vegan

I love the TofuXpress and I LOVE pad thai! Your recipe looks great.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/06983551616147697069 Jolon

Looks Delish! Can’t wait for the giveaway

http://www.blogger.com/profile/00361442891218676216 Emily Malloy

How talented you are, all around

http://www.blogger.com/profile/05034283259164629148 Magic of Spice

Great dish…wow loaded with flavor, I like

http://www.blogger.com/profile/13951788558737977318 Evan Halperin

I always put something random on top of tofu to “press” it. Never thought there was a real press!

http://www.lexieskitchen.com/ Lexie

Hi Noelle! You hit my weak spot with this recipe. Anything THAI. I will give your version a go tomorrow night